Objectives The criterion, convergent and incremental validity of the Breath Counting Task (BCT) as measures of present moment awareness and metaawareness were examined. Method A retrospective analysis was conducted on data collected from a sample of 100 schoolteachers who attended a mindfulness training programme. Breath counting accuracy and meta-awareness, measured with the BCT, along with self-reported mindfulness, psychological distress and rumination were assessed before and after the mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). Metaawareness level was determined by the frequency of self-caught errors in relation to unaware errors on the BCT. Results Consistent with the previous validation studies, breath counting accuracy was positively correlated with self-reported mindfulness. Breath counting accuracy was also negatively associated with psychological distress and rumination. Meta-awareness was positively associated with breath counting accuracy and self-reported mindfulness, and negatively associated with psychological distress and rumination. Meta-awareness but not breath counting accuracy was shown to have incremental validity over self-reported mindfulness in predicting psychological distress following MBI. Conclusions This study provides additional evidence for the criterion and convergent validity of BCT as a measure of present moment awareness. This study also provides preliminary evidence for the convergent validity and incremental convergent validity of the BCT as a measure of meta-awareness.
| Date of Award | 15 Sept 2021 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | |
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| Supervisor | Paul Chadwick (Supervisor), Jo Daniels (Supervisor), Elizabeth Marks (Supervisor) & Helena Blowers (Supervisor) |
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- Mindfulness
- mind-wandering
- meta-awareness
- self-caught
- breath counting
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Main Research Portfolio: 1) A systematic review of self-caught methodologies for measuring mind wandering with meta-awareness; 2) Feasibility and acceptability of group compassion focused therapy for psychosis in a secondary care community mental health setting: a service related study; 3) Validity of the Breath Counting Task as a behavioural measure of present moment awareness and meta-awareness.
Chu, M. T. P. Y. (Author). 15 Sept 2021
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)